The Niagara News is the community newspaper of Niagara College located in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. It is created and produced by the students of the Niagara College Journalism program.

Cancer survivors return to athletics

Imagine being told you will not be able to participate in upper-body sports again.

Brenda Arndt is a breast cancer survivor and has continued to be active despite being told she would not be able to use her upper body after defeating the cancer.

The South Niagara Rowing Club has helped her, and many others, defy that notion with dragon boating.

Dragon boating, a rowing sport, is a non-weight bearing sport, which allows 22 people to compete together. Now in her eighth year of dragon boating, Arndt says it has given her a chance to continue being active.

“Prior to breast cancer, I had two back surgeries, so I already thought I was not going to be fit anymore. I was always athletic as a youth and I met a breast cancer survivor who was dragon boating.

Arndt is reaching out to other breast cancer survivors. She held an event on Wednesday, March 1, called Calling All Breast Cancer Survivors. The night was held at the Welland International Flatwater Center. It was broken up into a workout portion, as well as an in-water rowing session meant to give newcomers a chance to see what the sport is all about.

Arndt is the captain of the Wonder Woman’s Warriors, which is a dragon boating team made entirely of breast cancer survivors. They are a recreational team, which occasionally participates in competitive races.

Practices are held twice a week throughout the summer and spring, as well as once in the autumn. Participation is a personal choice. Whether you paddle once a week or never miss a practice, there is a spot for you no matter your age or fitness level.

The team now practices in the winter as well, thanks to the Welland International Flatwater Center, a state-of-the-art facility built for the PAN-AM games in 2015.

Richard Dalton, manager of the Welland International Flatwater Center, says he loves that he can provide these women with such a great opportunity.

“Showing that they are putting their health and fitness as a priority and having a facility that can accommodate their need to get out there and be healthy is great, and really why this facility exists,” says Dalton.

Dr. Don Mackenzie, of British Columbia, started the Breast Cancer Survivors first dragon boating crew 22 years ago and now every four years there is an International Breast Cancer Survivors Festival. In 2018, the festival will be held in Florence, Italy.

The Wonder Woman’s Warriors are now fundraising for their trip to Florence. Money raised helps offset the cost of flights, accommodations, as well as registration fees. They are holding spaghetti dinners, auctions, and much more. Visit the Wonder Woman’s Warriors website, wonderwomanswarriors.com, for more information on how to donate.